COMPANY NEWS; CHECKPOINT FOUND GUILTY IN ANTITRUST CASE

Checkpoint Systems Inc., a maker of label, bar code and security systems for retailers, said yesterday that a federal jury had found the company guilty of antitrust violations in the security-tag market and assessed damages of $26 million. The lawsuit was brought by ID Security Systems Canada Inc., which contended that Checkpoint interfered with ID Security's contract to distribute antitheft retail tags made by Tokai Electronics of Japan, according to an earlier statement from ID Security. Checkpoint, which is based in Thorofare, N.J., said it planned to appeal the verdict. The damages could be tripled by the judge.